Deal or No Deal: A-Rod Reportedly Has 6 PM Sun Deadline to Accept Suspension Until 2015 or Face Lifetime Ban

Embattled New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez reportedly has a 6 p.m. EDT Sunday deadline to accept a suspension from Major League Baseball until 2015 or face a lifetime ban from the sport, according to multiple reports.

USA Todayreported on Friday that Rodriguez and his lawyers have been presented with the deal, but Rodriguez is hesitant to accept it because he is concerned about his legacy and “refuses to acknowledge that he cheated since joining the Yankees in 2004.”

The New York Postreported that Rodriguez has been given the 6 p.m. Sunday deadline before Major League Baseball makes its formal announcements on Monday.

According to USA Today, if Rodriguez “accepts any penalty imposed by Commissioner Bud Selig, he would have to acknowledge guilt, although he could avoid specifics, just like Braun’s public admission.” On the other hand, “if Rodriguez fights Selig, he runs the risk of MLB investigators exposing the dirty details they’ve collected in talking to Tony Bosch, head of Biogenesis who has provided baseball with information about his operation.”

Multiple reports have also indicated that Rodriguez and his lawyers have reportedly vowed to fight any punishment that is handed down to the end.

Rodriguez, who some say has stated he wants to join the Yankees next week, played in a Class-AA Minor League game on Friday and homered for the Trenton Thunder in a rehabilitation assignment.